Whatever kind of mood you’re in tonight. Hopefully everyone is familiar with Billy Joel’s, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant. Tonight I feature two wines (a red and a white) from Pend d’Oreille Winery, located near the shores of Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint, Idaho. Winemaker, Steve Meyer, uses traditional French methods with grapes sourced from world-class vineyards of the Pacific Northwest to produce multiple award-winning wines.
With a lineup of various cheeses ready from Whole Foods, I pulled the cork on the 2008 Chardonnay. Barrel fermented and aged in 100% French oak and retailing for $16 a bottle, 675 cases were produced of this Vickers Vineyard Chardonnay. A nice floral nose, showing a hint of oak and toasted almonds in the background. On the palate, flavors of apples and melon dominate before a toasty finish.
Last, but certainly not least, was the 2006 Snake River Valley Pinot Noir. Aged 20 months in 100% French oak, the $22 Pinot Noir is sourced from the Kuna Butte Vineyard, located in Kuna, Idaho. The nose is ripe with cherry and raspberry fruit. The palate is similarly ripe with cherry, spice and plum.
Another impressive showing from Idaho and especially Pend d’Oreille Winery. I also recommend trying their Bistro Rouge, a popular red blend.
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I could hear the cork popping! Cheers!
P.S. LOVE Billy Joel…puts me in a NY state of mind.
Just in case someone was wondering how to pronounce Pend d’Oreille it sounds like “ponderay”. I had to be corrected a while back as I grew up in NY. Boise has a weird pronunciation too. Most say “Boy-zee,” but people ’round these parts say “Boy-see.” That’s how we tell the foreigners from the locals. Thanks for helping to promote the state’s love in a barrel. Great post. I always liked “Vienna waits for you”=)
Michele,
Nothing like spending an evening with a little Billy Joel and a glass of wine, especially if you’re in NY. Cheers!
Hi George,
Thank you for your readership and the clarification on how to pronounce Pend d’Oreille. I was wondering and was just about to follow up with an email to the winery. Great timing! That said, Idaho is doing some great things. The sky is the limit for Idaho wines. Cheers!